Pittsburgh Steelers Fanatic

Looking Forward to the 2023 Draft: Mock Draft Final

2023-04-25T12:41:00.007-07:00

With round one of the actual 2023 NFL Draft just a couple of days away, it is time for one more dive into an attempt to mock out just who the Steelers may choose with their seven selections.

Pick #17
It really is incredible how many quality players are available here. Most notable in this third mock is that Deonte Banks has moved up the PFF board, moving past Joey Porter Jr. to the #18 position in PFF's rankings. In this mock, as in previous iterations, PFF's #1 ranked tight end (Dalton Kincaid) is available, as is their top-rated safety (Brian Branch), the #2 ranked interior defensive lineman (Calijah Kancey), the #3 edge defender (Myles Murphy), and the previously mentioned Deonte Banks who is PFF's third-rated cornerback.

During Monday's press conference, Mike Tomlin made it clear that he does not see any glaring weaknesses in his team, implying that they will look to select the best player available. He also discussed the evolution of specialization in the NFL, specifically mentioning situational defensive backs as something new to the NFL schemes. With that in mind, along with the knowledge that cornerback is a position with significant depth in this draft, the selection here is Brian Branch.

SELECTION: Brian Branch (S/Alabama)

Pick #32
In this mock draft, some of the more notable players available here were PFF's #1 rated offensive guard (O'Cyrus Torrence), their #1 rated linebacker (Jack Campbell), the #3 tight end (Darnell Washington), the #2 interior defender (Mazi Smith), and the #5 offensive tackle (Dawand Jones). The Steelers' offseason moves have included signing two offensive guards, and while a spot is likely to open later this offseason (i.e., Kendrick Green seems at risk of being cut) it seems less likely the team would go that route with this pick. Meanwhile, in previous mock drafts, I have argued that the defensive line is an area of need, and Smith would be a quality selection. Linebacker? Campbell is good, excelling as a run stopper but struggling a bit in pass coverage. As for tight end, PFF sees Washington as a third rounder.

As a fan, I was not enamored with any of these options but also did not want to reach down the board to take a cornerback. There is a lot of value in this pick, especially for teams without first-round selections (e.g., Miami and Denver).

SELECTION: Mazi Smith (DL/Michigan)

Pick #49
Having done a fair number of mock drafts, at this point a lot of the names are recognizable -- Tyrique Stevenson (CB, Miami), D.J. Turner (CB, Michigan), Antonio Johnson (PFF's #2 rated safety, Texas A&M). But a couple of offensive players caught my eye this time around: Zach Charbonnet (RB, UCLA) and Cody Mauch (T, North Dakota State). As in my second mock draft, I am always ready to show some love to my alma mater and this time is no exception. Charbonnet was a dynamic performer in his final season at UCLA, both as a runner and as a pass catcher. While I recognize that selecting a running back is improbable, some team is going to get a phenomenal talent. But, Cody Mauch is just too good to pass up -- in the past three seasons he gave up a combined total of three sacks, five QB hits, and 16 QB hurries.

SELECTION: Cody Mauch (OT, North Dakota State)

Pick #80
This is another spot where trading down, especially if the Steelers were to get a second or third-round selection in next year's draft makes some sense. However, the player I ultimately selected is rated as sixth-best at his position by PFF and "is one of the best coverage linebackers in the class, boasting a 6-foot-8 wingspan and 4.49 speed."

SELECTION: Dorian Williams (LB/Tulane)

Pick #120
So many offensive linemen are still available here, including PFF's third-best offensive guard (Chandler Zavala, N.C. State). Also notable is the fifth-best safety (Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State). But because the Steelers next pick is not until 241, I was willing to look down the board a bit to see what else might be available, ultimately decided on another cornerback.

SELECTION: Jaylon Jones (CB/Texas A&M)

Pick #241
Seventh-round picks are seventh-round picks for a reason (Brock Purdy notwithstanding). Athleticism is key, and if a team can find a player good enough to stick to the roster that is a win. In this mock draft there were just a bushel of linemen, both offensive and defensive, along with wide receivers and running backs. But the player who seemed to offer the most value, though a bit undersized and a USC alum, is PFF's seventh-rated center.

SELECTION: Brett Neilon (C/USC)

Pick #251
Who really knows? However, this linebacker has performed well in pass coverage but missed more tackles than one would prefer.

SELECTION: Aubrey Miller Jr. (LB/Jackson State)

And here is how PFF graded me:

Definitely a mixed back. The only selection I would change is choosing Dorian Williams in the third round -- chances seem pretty good that he would have been there at #120.

Looking Forward to the 2023 Draft: Mock Draft #2

2023-04-18T13:52:00.004-07:00

With the news that the Steelers had swapped 7th-round picks with the Los Angeles Rams in order to get Alan Robinson, not to mention all of the other moves they have made this offseason, I thought now would be as good a time as any to run a new mock draft.

Using the Pro Football Focus draft simulator again, I pumped up the "Randomness" setting just a bit because of the numerous offseason moves made by Omar Khan. The other settings remained the same. Here is how the draft unfolded:

Selection #17
The players that fell to the Steelers in this simulation were truly random: Peter Skoronski (OT, Northwestern), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Ohio State), Calijah Kancey (DL, Pitt), Dalton Kincaid (TE, Utah), and Deonte Banks (CB, Maryland).

The injury-riddled season suffered by Smith-Njigba leaves me hesitant to select him here, though the story of being united with his brother in Pittsburgh would be a heartwarming one.

This is as low as I have seen Skoronski fall in any of the simulations I have run via PFF, and though some who are far more knowledgeable than I have some concerns about his arm length there seems to be no doubt about his ability to play offensive guard in the NFL. But with the Steelers acquiring Nate Herbig and Isaac Seumalo this offseason, is this the spot to go guard? I think not.

The draft consensus is that Dalton Kincaid is the best tight end in the draft, but this seems too high a selection for that position (i.e., the Steelers' need is not that acute).

That leaves Kancey and Banks. Getting Banks, despite the acquisition of Patrick Peterson, makes some sense -- who better to tutor a new member of the defensive backfield? Of course, the same could be said of Cam Hayward mentoring Kancey, though NFL.com's Lance Zierlein sees the Pitt defensive lineman as being undersized as a run-stopper. Ultimately, it feels like a coin flip between these two; and though I love Kancey and have consistently selected him other draft simulations, I opted for Deonte Banks this time. SELECTION: Deonte Banks, CB/Maryland

Selection #32
Though the names here are not as highly-publicized as those closer to the top of the draft, the quality of players available at the beginning of the second round is pretty remarkable, with the highest-rated available players being Will McDonald IV (Edge, Iowa State), Emmanuel Forbes (CB, Mississippi State), Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Edge, Kansas State), Mazi Smith (DL, Michigan), BJ Ojulari (Edge, LSU), and Dawand Jones (OT, Ohio State).

Of the edge rushers available, it has been widely reported that Anudike-Uzomah visited the Steelers South Side offices recently. There is little doubt that Mazi Smith would be an upgrade for the defensive line, an area of particular need on the defense (if only because injuries seem to have plagued this group the past few seasons). Also, though the first-round selection of a cornerback would seemingly preclude selecting another here, Forbes is a compelling prospect who has started since his freshman season. Dawand Jones seems a bit too entrenched as a right offensive tackle -- the Steelers seem to value position flexibility along the offensive line the way the Pirates want their players to play multiple positions. After a lot of flip-flopping, I went with Anudike-Uzomah. SELECTION: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge/Kansas State

Selection #49
Want another cornerback? This spot offers multiple options including Tyrique Stevenson (Miami), Julius Brents (Kansas State), Garrett Williams (Syracuse), and Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (TCU). All but Williams, who is still rehabilitating following knee surgery are attractive options. Also available here is the best running back in the draft: Zach Charbonnet (UCLA). As a proud UCLA alumnus, I admit to some bias, but I can say with a clear conscience that he is an impact player -- the Steelers could do worse (though I know in my head that there is no chance of them selecting a running back here). Having said all of that, I focused on Daiyan Henley (ILB, Washington State), PFF's highest rated inside linebacker. At 6'2", 225 lbs., he seems a bit undersized, but this synopsis from PFF sold me: "Henley is a converted receiver who now covers them with ease. He also tracks them down in space, as he missed only five tackles on 97 attempts last season." SELECTION: Daiyan Henley, LB/Washington State

Selection #80
Williams (Syracuse), and Hodges-Tomlinson (TCU) were available here as well. But the name that jumped out was that of Antonio Johnson (S, Texas A&M). Rated by PFF as the #2 safety in this year's draft, and 64th best player overall, he is just too good to pass up. SELECTION: Anotonio Johnson, S/Texas A&M

Selection #120
Now into the middle of the fourth round, this is where scouting and evaluation mean so much. These players are still available to select because of perceived flaws in their respective games. Some of those available include Nick Herbig (Edge, Wisconsin) -- a selection of Herbig would give the Steelers their second brother combination on the roster -- Anthony Johnson Jr. (S, Iowa State), Chandler Zavala (OG, NC State), Isaiah McGuire (Edge, Missouri), and Dorian Williams (LB, Tulane). Given all the off-season acquisitions along the offensive line, it seems unlikely that a selection of Zavala would happen here, yet, he is the third-highest rated OG according to PFF. Meanwhile, Williams is #5 at his position according to PFF and " is one of the best coverage linebackers in the class, boasting a 6-foot-8 wingspan and 4.49 speed." That also translates to special teams. SELECTION: Dorian Williams, LB/Tulane

Selection #241
There is no greater value pick available in this draft. SELECTION: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB/UCLA. No, the Steelers do not need a QB. Or do they? With only two quarterbacks on the roster, they are sure to bring in someone for training camp. Moreover, DTR is the kind of athletic quarterback that "makes run defense more challenging." He is a winner and a leader.

Selection #251
Moving down a bit in the swap of picks with the Rams, it seems best to find someone who can contribute on special teams -- chances of finding a starter are pretty remote. PFF's #15 ranked safety, Quidell Johnson (Memphis) is available, as is the #10 linebacker, Troy Brown (Mississippi). SELECTION: Troy Brown, LB/Mississippi

And here is how PFF graded this draft:

As can be seen, PFF did not hate the DTR choice nearly as much as some Steelers fans no doubt will!

Looking Forward to the 2023 Draft: Mock Draft #1

2023-03-29T13:32:00.008-07:00

Sure, it has been a while since last I took the time to publish here. The reason for that is pretty obvious: There are a lot of better, more informed writers covering the Steelers today than there were seven years ago. Like most of you, I consumed most of the content created by Dale Lolley, Dejan Kovacevic, Chris Carter, et al. Those reporters have access to the team, its players, coaches, and management. What in the world could I hope to offer that they have not already provided? But then, mock draft simulations became a thing and I figured my guesses were worth taking the time to share.

Between now and the NFL Draft I will post my selections for the Steelers along with some rationale for those selections. For the purposes of these posts, I am not proposing any trades, though it seems pretty clear that pick #32 could be dealt to a team missing out on the first round (e.g., Rams #36, Dolphins #51, Broncos #67) for a decent return both this year and next (and, perhaps, 2025). For all of these drafts, I am using the Pro Football Focus (PFF) draft simulator with custom settings:

With all of that in mind, let's dive into Mock Draft #1!

By the time for the Steelers' first pick (#17) came around the top three cornerbacks (i.e., Christian Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon, and Joey Porter Jr. -- he went to the Jets) were already off the board. As a result, the players at the top of PFF's draft rankings available were:

#13: Calijah Kancey (DL, Pitt),

#14: Brian Branch (S, Alabama),

#17: Dalton Kincaid (TE, Utah),

#18: Deonte Banks (CB, Maryland)

A great deal of focus regarding the Steelers this postseason has been on the need for adding quality and depth to their cornerbacks, and Banks would be a good choice here. Of course, there have been reports that Steelers' management is also looking to add a safety, and if that is perceived as a higher priority then Branch could be the way to go. Meanwhile, as good as Kincaid may be, there is no chance that the team takes a tight end in the first round. Having said all of that, Kancey is the selection to make here. Any doubts I may have had were laid to rest with this from PFF: "He may have to start off as a designated pass-rusher, but he can truly excel in that role. There's little doubt he's going to impact QBs at the next level." Having a solid secondary is important but one way to improve your secondary is to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks more consistently. SELECTION: Calijah Kancey

As selection #32 rolled around, here were the top ten players available according to PFF's rankings:

#30: Josh Downs (WR, UNC)

#31: Dawand Jones (OT, Ohio State)

#32: Tanner McKee (QB, Stanford)

#33: Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Edge, Kansas State)

#35: BJ Ojulari (Edge, LSU)

#36: Emmanual Forbes (CB, Mississippi State)

#37: Daiyan Henley (LB, Washington State)

#38: Cam Smith (CB, South Carolina)

#40: Adetomiwa Adebawore (Edge, Northwestern)

#41: Steve Avila (OG, TCU)

There is a lot to like in this group but there are some positions (i.e., OG, QB, WR) that will not be part of the Steelers' draft calculus at this spot. Further, as appealing as a young, athletic edge rusher might be it seems a reach at selection #32. That leaves these players to receive the most serious consideration:

#31: Dawand Jones (OT, Ohio State)

#36: Emmanual Forbes (CB, Mississippi State)

#37: Daiyan Henley (LB, Washington State)

#38: Cam Smith (CB, South Carolina)

Yes, the Steelers need a cornerback (or two). But, with their future vested in Kenny Pickett, it seems prudent to solidify left tackle. SELECTION: Dawand Jones (OT, Ohio State)

The next Steelers selection comes at #49 and this was, by far, the toughest choice. I had hoped that a cornerback (e.g., Tyrique Stevenson) or a safety (e.g., Anotonio Johnson) would be available here but they went off the board shortly ahead of the Steelers' pick. Here are the top 20 players according to PFF that were available at this spot:

#32: Tanner McKee (QB, Stanford)

#43: Nathaniel Dell (WR, Houston)

#46: Luke Wypler (C, Ohio State)

#49: Garrett Williams (CB, Syracuse)

#50: Sam LaPorta (TE, Iowa)

#51: Jahmyr Gibbs (RB, Alabama)

#52: Andre Carter II (Edge, Army)

#53: Joe Tippmann (C, Wisconsin)

#54: Matthew Bergeron (OT, Syracuse)

#56: Karl Brooks (Edge, Bowling Green)

#57: Sydney Brown (S, Syracuse)

#58: Nick Herbig (Edge, Wisconsin)

#59: Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (CB, TCU)

#60: Zach Charbonnet (RB, UCLA)

#61: Eli Ricks (CB, Alabama)

#62: Julius Brents (CB, Kansas State)

#63: Jammie Robinson (S, FSU)

#65: Siaki Ika (DL, Baylor)

#66: Trenton Simpson (LB, Clemson)

#67: Keannu Benton (DL, Wisconsin)

Seeing Bergeron available made me a bit whistful about having selected Jones at #32. With cornerback and safety still a need, I had to pass on Zach Charbonnet who is an outstanding runner and pass catcher -- someone is going to get a great running back. Similarly, it is difficult to believe that offensive line would see much more attention in this draft, especially considering the two free agent signings earlier this month. Ultimately, I focused on the defensive backs:

#57: Sydney Brown (S, Syracuse)
#59: Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (CB, TCU)

#61: Eli Ricks (CB, Alabama)

#62: Julius Brents (CB, Kansas State)

#63: Jammie Robinson (S, FSU)

After perusing the various metrics offered I settled on Sydney Brown, of whom PFF says "Brown is the single best athlete in this safety class. His size [5'10", 211 lbs.] will take him off some boards, but his coverage versatility should be coveted." SELECTION: Sydney Brown (S, Syracuse).

Now at #80, cornerbacks seem relatively plentiful with a few now familiar names popping up again, along with some new ones:

#32: Tanner McKee (QB, Stanford)
#49: Garrett Williams (CB, Syracuse)

#59: Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (CB, TCU)

#63: Jammie Robinson (S, FSU)

#81: Darius Rush (CB, South Carolina)

#82: Dorian Williams (LB, Tulane)

Sorry Tanner McKee, you are not going to be selected here either. In looking at the defensive backs, the question becomes do the Steelers want to selected a cornerback who is ranked between 15-25 at their position or a safety who is top ten at his? I opted for the safety who is well rated in both coverage and run defense. SELECTION: Jammie Robinson (S, FSU).

At spot #120, the top rated players represent an array of positions, including running backs, safeties, linebackers, defensive linemen, edge rushers, and wide receivers. The players to whom I gave serious consideration were:

#111: Yasir Abdullah (Edge, Louisville)

#116: Ronnie Hickman (Safety, Ohio State)

#121: Keondre Coburn (Nose Tackle, Texas)

#123: Ji'Ayir Brown (Safety, Penn State)

#124: Cam Jones (LB, Indiana)

Abdullah is highly regarded by PFF and had 11 sacks during his 2022 season (as compared to 13 in the previous two seasons combined) and Hickman had the 33rd best passer rating allowed (39.2) amongst all safeties. Statistics for Jones and Brown were less impressive, with PFF arguing that Brown "is too unreliable to trust deep." SELECTION: Ronnie Hickman (Safety, Ohio State).

With the final two Steelers picks in the middle of the seventh round, I focused on getting athletes/special teams contributors.

#234 SELECTION: SirVocea Dennis (LB, Pitt) -- I rather doubt that Dennis will last this long in the actual draft, especially considering his strong performance at Pitt's pro day, but if he is then the Steelers should snap him up.

#241 SELECTION: Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB, UCLA) -- as a UCLA alum, I freely admit my bias. However, the Steelers need a third quarterback and this young man is an incredible athlete. Also available in this mock draft was Max Duggan, the quarterback from TCU.

At the conclusion of the draft, here is how PFF graded my selections:

The 49th pick was the toughest so I am not surprised that it received a less than stellar grade. Further, not finding a cornerback seems problematic. But, these selections would strengthen both the offensive and defensive lines as well as safety.

Thanks for reading and the next mock draft will be in about a week.

Blogger greetings

2023-01-11T18:58:00.000-08:00

Blogger https://www.google.com/search?q=jaubele1.steelersfanatic@blogger.com Jaubele1

Season's End: Looking to the Draft

2016-01-18T11:30:00.004-08:00

With the Steeler's postseason run having come to an untimely end it is time to think about the composition of the 2016 roster, and who doesn't love a good mock draft? The key is finding good mock drafts, and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com is one of our personal favorites. Mr. Jeremiah released his first mock draft late Sunday evening and he has the Steelers choosing Hunter Henry, a tight end from Arkansas, with their first choice.

There is little doubt that if the Steelers were to select a tight end with their #1 pick angry masses would storm the Steelers' Southside offices, but with elite talent at cornerback hard to come by Mr. Jeremiah's best options at that position (four players) are gone in the first 12 picks.

For more perspective take a look at Mr. Jeremiah's current Top 50.

Looking Ahead: Week 16

2015-12-20T18:32:00.000-08:00

Like the team itself, Steelers fans will probably enjoy the win over Denver for about 12-24 hours before turning their collective attention to next weekend.

The Steelers travel to Baltimore for a 1:00PM matchup with the shell of what was formerly the Ravens. Will the Steelers take care of business and pound what is now an undermanned team? Or will the cumulative effects of playing four emotional games (okay, the blow-up over Indianapolis might not have been that emotionally taut) catch-up to the Steelers?

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the Patriots will head to the Meadowlands looking to solidify their position as the #1 seed in the AFC, thereby assuring a bye week. The other team ahead of the Steelers in the playoff race, Kansas City, hosts Cleveland.

QBR is the most useless metric ever

2015-11-19T13:53:00.002-08:00

In case anyone needed any further evidence of just how meaningless the QBR© metric is the folks at Pro Football Talk have provided us with plenty: "But today I decided to dig a little deeper into what is, according to QBR, the greatest game any quarterback has ever played: Charlie Batch’s 186-yard, two-interception performance against the Buccaneers in 2010."

For the sake of everyone's well-being can ESPN get back to what it has always been the best at, i.e. televising sporting events? And if they must insert themselves into the new-metric age, then please leave that to the trained professionals on their staff.

Steelers @ New England: 2015 Kickoff

2015-04-21T14:45:00.003-07:00

This comes as no surprise, but according to a tweet from a reporter with the New York Daily News, the Steelers will travel to Foxboro to open the 2015 NFL regular season.

The complete schedule is expected to be released at about 8:00PM EDT.

Speculation on the 2015 regular season schedule

2015-01-29T16:50:00.001-08:00

ESPN's Adam Schefter published some random thoughts about the NFL -- two weeks is just two long to wait for the Super Bowl, even for Mr. Schefter -- and one of those items involves the Steelers:

Who will play in the 2015 regular-season opener? The team that might have the best chance of playing in next season's regular-season opener is not New England or Seattle; it's Pittsburgh. Next season, the Steelers play road games at New England and at Seattle. Not only that, but they might be the most compelling away opponent on those teams' schedules.
New England's home opponents include the AFC East teams, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Washington, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Seattle's home opponents include the NFC West teams, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Carolina and Pittsburgh. So I believe the Steelers have the best chance to play in the Thursday night opener.

Others have made this same bit of conjecture, but I tend to put more credence into it when Adam Schefter says it may be so.

Turning the Page: 2015 Opponents

2015-01-06T10:44:00.001-08:00

With the Steelers' season having concluded we can look forward to a challenging, entertaining, maddening 2015. With that in mind, here are the opponents the Steelers will face (along with their historical record, including playoffs, against each franchise):

Home
Arizona
Baltimore (24-18)
Cincinnati (56-34)
Cleveland (68-58)
Denver (10-18-1)
Indianapolis (20-6)
Oakland (12-15)
San Francisco (9-11)

Away
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Kansas City (19-10)
New England (15-12)
San Diego (22-9)
Seattle (9-8)
St. Louis (8-17-2)

Favorite Tweets of the Night: Wild Card Edition

2015-01-03T18:09:00.002-08:00

Is it too early for mock drafts?

2014-12-05T09:08:00.001-08:00

Having just paid an invoice for playoff tickets, we're hoping that the Steelers can get on another winning streak and have at least one playoff home game. However their recent play makes that seem a bit too optimistic, and the playoffs have never seemed more unlikely. With that in mind we share the first mock draft we've encountered.

According to this early projection the Steelers will draft Alabama safety Landon Collins in the 14th spot of round one. According to CBSSports.com Mr. Collins is a "[w]ell-built athlete with light feet and fluid hips to change direction quickly. He's a forceful and reliable open-field tackler who often rips at the ball aggressively as he's taking opponents to the ground" who is projected as a first-round choice because of his ability to handle either strong- or free-safety positions.

Stat of the Day

2014-11-18T07:36:00.001-08:00

This from Ray Fittipaldo of the PittsburghPost-Gazette: "Here is why the Steelers should stay committed to the running game in the stretch run. The 39 plays the Tennessee Titans ran were the fewest for an NFL team in three years, according to the NFL Network."

A Legend Lost

2014-06-13T20:54:00.002-07:00

Here's a sneak peek at Saturday's cover featuring former @Steelers coach Chuck Noll: pic.twitter.com/kOIOV7wi32
— PittsburghTribSports (@TribSports) June 14, 2014

Hall of Fame @steelers coach Chuck Noll passes at 82: http://t.co/hNG0wij6OY #RIPChuckNoll pic.twitter.com/qIyCvYwNad
— NFL (@nfl) June 14, 2014

Steelers 2014 schedule amongst the easiest

2014-04-24T11:32:00.001-07:00

No matter how one slice-and-dices the recently released National Football League schedule the Steelers have some of the weakest opponents of any team. To get an idea of just how weak the schedule is take a look at Neil Paine's analysis on 538.com.

Steelers announce 2014 preseason schedule

2014-04-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

Generally speaking NFL teams a free to schedule their home and away games during the preseason (the exception is the Hall of Fame game), so it will come as no surprise who the Steelers' opponents will be during the preseason: New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and Carolina Panthers. The actual dates have not been announced.

The Steelers will play at the Giants and at the Eagles, and will face the Bills and Panthers at Heinz Field.

The Steelers faced the Giants and Panthers last season (along with games versus Kansas City and Washington), and played on the road in Philadelphia and Carolina in 2012.

2014 Opponents

2013-12-29T11:29:00.002-08:00

Since the debacle that was September the Steelers have been 7-4 (8-4 with a win versus Cleveland in week 17), and that has us feeling optimistic about 2014. So, while the Steelers try to pull off another December miracle, (as we write this the Jets are driving, the Bengals are leading) we look at next season's opponents.

HOME: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Kansas City.

AWAY: Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Atlanta, Carolina, N.Y. Jets.

Nobody recovers from a concussion in a week

2013-11-21T09:33:00.000-08:00

Players in the National Football League routinely return from mild traumatic brain injuries just in time to participate in their team's next game, typically a week following the injury. But now comes word that "lingering abnormalities in the gray matter of [the] left prefrontal cortex . . . could persist up to four months after the injury."

If the NFL is as serious about the well-being of its players as Commissioner Goodell claims then we would like to see teams have the option to place players on a "injured reserve -- concussion" status that would be 14 days in duration. This would give players a chance to begin the healing process, and teams could get short-term flexibility for their rosters.

Turning to the 2014 NFL Draft

2013-10-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

Losing to Oakland, something that happens with increasing regularity when the Steelers travel west, is always painful but let's face it: This year's Steelers squad is not a Super Bowl contender (and never was), so the long-term health of the franchise would benefit from the highest possible pick next spring.

With that in mind we give you the first mock draft of the season, about four months ahead of schedule. This particular effort, October 23, has Pittsburgh picking sixth and choosing offensive tackle Jake Matthews out of Texas A&M. Personally, we think it is time to think nose tackle, defensive end, strong safety but it isn't as if a strong OT wouldn't be helpful.

Steelers @ Oakland: The Weekly Matchups

2013-10-21T08:59:00.001-07:00

Not to put too fine a point on this but my children have never seen the Steelers defeat Oakland in Oakland, and if the numbers are to be believed (and we all know that -- as Nick Bakay always says -- the numbers never lie!) this week's contest is a battle between two teams who have more in common than their 2-4 records.

Oakland Offense v. Steelers Defense
Average total yards per game: Oakland offense 25th (320.8) v. Steelers defense 6th (306.8 )

Average net rushing yards per game: Oakland offense 9th (129.2) v. Steelers defense 18th (109.3)

Average net passing yards per game: Oakland offense 32nd (191.7) v. Steelers defense 4th (197.5)

Average yards per pass attempt (excluding sacks): Oakland offense 11.8 v. Steelers defense 10.7

Average points per game: Oakland offense 28th (17.5) v. Steelers defense 12th (22.0)

Steelers Offense v. Oakland Defense
Average total yards per game: Steelers offense 22nd (329.8) v. Oakland defense 12th (344.0)

Average net rushing yards per game: Steelers offense 27th (74.3) v. Oakland defense T9th (99.0)

Average net passing yards per game: Steelers offense 12th (255.5) v. Oakland defense 16th (241.0)

Average yards per pass attempt (excluding sacks): Steelers offense 11.6 v. Oakland defense 10.9

Average points per game: Steelers offense: 27th (17.8) v. Oakland defense T21st (22.0)

Special Teams
Average yards per punt return: Oakland 13th (8.7) v. Steelers 30th (6.0)

Average yards allowed per punt return: Oakland 21st (8.4) v. Steelers 22nd (8.9)

Average yards per kick return: Oakland 20th (23.1) v. Steelers 31st (19.8)

Average yards allowed per kick return: Oakland 1st (19.0) v. Steelers 4th (20.3)

Net yardage punting average: Oakland 42.0 v. Steelers 37.2

Opponent net yardage punting average: Oakland 37.9 v. Steelers 40.2

Miscellaneous
Turnover differential: Oakland T15th (0) v. Steelers 29th (-10)

Time of possession: Oakland 12th (30:46) v. Steelers 18th (30:21)

Sacks: Oakland 16 v. Steelers 8

Sacks allowed: Oakland 27 v. Steelers 22

Penalties: Oakland 55 for 336 yards v. Steelers 33 for 284 yards

Some Individual Numbers
NFL passer rating: Terrelle Pryor, 18th (84.9) v. Ben Roethlisberger, 15th (90.8)

NFL Leading rushers: Terrelle Pryor, 25th (285 yards) v. Le'Veon Bell, 41st (448 yards)

NFL Leading receivers: Denarius Moore, 58th (44 targeted, 25 catches, 399 yards, 16.0 per catch, 4 touchdowns) v. Antonio Brown, 2nd (60 targeted, 47 catches, 548 yards, 11.7 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns)

NFL Sack Leaders: Lamarr Houston, 3.0 v. LaMarr Woodley, 5.0

The NFL & Concussions: Adding Insult to Injury

2013-10-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

According to a story in the New York Times former NFL players "found with a severe brain injury after they turned 45, or who played in the N.F.L. for five years or less, would probably receive smaller payouts" from the league's recent $765,000,000 settlement of a lawsuit brought by 4,500 retired players.

The problem of course is that encephalopathy is a gradual, neurodegenerative disease that, while there have been high profile cases of players exhibiting symptoms before age 45, may take years to manifest itself.

Further, the survivors of players who died before 2006 (e.g. Mike Webster, Terry Long and Andre Waters) would be ineligible to receive any payment. What does that mean for those survivors? According to the article, "the families of players who committed suicide [prior to 2006] and were found to have C.T.E. may receive up to $4 million."

Given the level of suffering that some players have suffered it seems small-minded, if not cruel, to exclude cases of football related encephalopathy, and the attended depressive issues, that have been confirmed by postmortem examinations simply because the victims died more than seven years ago.

The NFL's Concussion Problem: New Evidence

2013-10-17T15:33:00.001-07:00

According to a Los Angeles Times article a newly published study of NFL alumni reveals that the

differences in brain function between the former NFL players and their healthy comparison group suggest that long before concussion-related dementia is evident, the brain begins to work differently to keep up. As crucial brain networks break down, those who have sustained cumulative injuries to their brain must exert extra mental energy just to deliver cognitive performance approaching normal.

The groundbreaking aspect of this particular study (available online) is that the former players were living at the time of their participation in the study and, rather than brain tissue being examined, the players and the participating control group underwent "fMRI-optimised neuropsychological test of executive function" that examined brain activity while each subject performed a series of tasks.

In recent years the NFL has seemingly played both sides of the concussion threat -- supporting scientific research and rule changes within the game while simultaneously claiming that the science was unclear and unsettled as to whether or not playing football leads to encephalopathy -- and we can only wonder how much longer league leadership will equivocate on this crucial issue.

Looking forward: A fearless prediction

2013-10-11T09:06:00.002-07:00

Before the season began we were fairly confident that the Steelers would lose their first four games -- nothing in the preseason made us believe that the mediocre team from 2012 had done anything to improve -- and now that that has come to fruition we turn our attention to the remaining twelve games. Where will the Steelers' record end up, and how will it get there? To steal a line from Peter King, here's what we thing we know:

Wins
10/13 @ New York Jets -- If the Steelers don't win this game then everything else we say here is automatically null-and-void. This will be Pittsburgh's only road victory this season.

11/10 vs. Buffalo -- The unsettled nature of the quarterback position for the Bills will work to the Steelers' advantage.

11/17 vs. Detroit -- This is very much a coin toss kind of game, but we are feeling generous.

12/08 vs. Miami -- Ike Taylor will abuse Mike Wallace.

12/29 vs. Cleveland -- The Steelers will end their sorry 2013 season with a win than means nothing except a lower draft pick.

Losses
10/20 vs. Baltimore -- The defending champs will not miss on an opportunity to kick their rivals while they're down.

10/27 @ Oakland -- Since the merger, including playoff games, the Steelers are 12-14 versus Oakland and have not won a game in Oakland since 1995.

11/03 @ New England -- The injury to Vince Wilfork is a big blow to New England's defensive unit, and the game might be a little closer because of it, but no win here.

11/24 @ Cleveland -- The resurgent Browns are this season's NFL version of the Pirates. More to the point, the Browns are proving effective at running the football and the Steelers are having a problem stopping people from running.

11/28 @ Baltimore -- Four days to prepare? Uh, okay.

12/15 vs. Bengals -- We would love to pick the Steelers here, and the Bengals could always implode before the end of the season, but we think that is mostly wishful thinking.

12/22 @ Green Bay -- This may be a blowout of epic proportions.

The NFL flexes its political muscles

2013-10-09T08:38:00.001-07:00

According to a Los Angeles Times report the National Football League, in collaboration with other professional sports leagues, have successfully lobbied the California state legislature to pass legislation that "significantly limits workers' compensation claims by pro players."

California Governor Jerry Brown signed that legislation into law on October 8, and is retroactive to September 15, 2013 (meaning that claims filed after that date are now invalid).

As the article points out, "because the NFL does not offer lifetime healthcare to its players, those who cannot file workers' compensation claims despite having legitimate injuries may be forced to pay for their own medical costs."

Only time will tell if the professional sports leagues will engage in a state-by-state strategy to limit themselves to workers' compensation exposure, but it also seems that the NFL is determined to see that the recent $765,000,000 payout to former players is the last of its kind.

"League of Denial"

2013-10-09T08:07:00.002-07:00

We have been blogging about the issue of concussions and their long-term affects amongst players of the National Football League for some time now, and so it will come as no surprise to readers here that we were very interested in "League of Denial," the most recent episode of PBS' outstanding series Frontline.

But nothing could have prepared us of the riveting, wrenching, and heartbreaking description of Mike Webster's post-NFL life. Moreover, the story focuses intensely and intimately on the Pittsburgh Steelers as a microcosm of what has happened to former NFL players as the result of their play and what today's players may face in the future.

If you love the Steelers, and by extension the NFL, make the time to watch "League of Denial" online.

We also have the book of the same title (referenced in the Frontline piece) and will be sharing our thoughts soon.